Criminal Justice Career Day set for March 13

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March 7, 2018

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Between 700-800 criminal justice and forensic investigation students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will have the opportunity to network with representatives from up to 95 tri-state agencies at the university’s 45th annual Criminal Justice Career Day on Tuesday, March 13, in Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with speakers scheduled to present during the event. Last year, approximately 400 students and 85 agencies from all areas of criminal justice attended.

Criminal Justice Career Day, sponsored by the UW-Platteville Criminal Justice Association, is an annual event open to all UW-Platteville students and faculty who are looking for career opportunities or contacts with hiring agencies in the criminal justice and forensic investigation fields. High school students interested in exploring careers in criminal justice or forensic investigation are also welcome.

Representatives from local, state and federal levels of criminal justice agencies will be present to provide expertise and recruitment in their respective fields. Some of the larger agencies will include the Madison Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Probation and Pretrial Services, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Corrections, Napervillle Police, Riverview Center, Family Advocates and many others.

At noon in Nohr Gallery, guest speaker Dr. Nicholas Chiarkas, Wisconsin State public defender emeritus, former New York Police Department officer and professor of law, will speak about the tools to be successful in the field, whether working in policing, advising political leaders or defending criminal offenders.

Dr. Amy Nemmetz, assistant professor of criminal justice at UW-Platteville and co-advisor of the Criminal Justice Association, said that Criminal Justice Career Day is a remarkable event for forensic investigation and criminal justice students, alumni and agencies.

“Our students get to shine on so many levels,” said Nemmetz. “Our Criminal Justice Association executive board students work together to make the event happen, forensic investigation and criminal justice majors get a chance to meet and talk with agencies about future internship or employment opportunities while sporting their professional attire and multiple alumni return to proudly represent their agencies and provide students with tips to obtain future positions. Agency attendees continue to report that they look forward to the event every year. Perhaps this explains the roster this year; we have maxed out Velzy.”

Amber Hoffman, a junior criminal justice major from Appleton, Wisconsin, and Melissa Hetzel, a senior criminal justice and psychology major from Hartford, Wisconsin, have been instrumental in organizing the event. Both are members of the Criminal Justice Association executive board and serve as the Criminal Justice Career Day coordinators.

“Criminal Justice Career Day is important for students because it gives them a chance to truly get a feel of what a department or agency will be like and a chance talk to real world professionals,” said Hoffman. “When I graduate, I plan to go into Border Patrol as a border agent. The Career Day is going to help me with my future career because I get to ask the agents questions about their day-to-day activities, how to apply, requirements and what other career paths there are within the agency. I can also get advice on how to format résumés and specifics for cover letters.”

Hetzel noted that the UW-Platteville Department of Criminal Justice is continuously growing, and it is important to emphasize internship opportunities and job placement for its students. As a student who will graduate in May, she can attest to the benefits that the Criminal Justice Career Day offers students.

“For freshmen and sophomores, the Criminal Justice Career Day allows them to explore new job opportunities that they may not even know about at the time,” said Hetzel. “For juniors, it is a great opportunity to land an internship, which helps build their résumé while also giving them experience in the field. Lastly, seniors can benefit from the recruitment opportunities at the event by beginning the job application process on site.”

UW-Platteville faculty and staff who helped organize the Criminal Justice Career Day include Nemmetz; Tim Juedes, lecturer and co-advisor of the Criminal Justice Association; and Grant Patient, lecturer and co-advisor of the Criminal Justice Association.

For more information about Criminal Justice Career Day, contact the Criminal Justice Association at uwpcja@gmail.com.

High-impact practices are an important component of UW-Platteville’s 2017-2018 strategic work plan, which includes the institutional priorities of improving student learning, data-informed decision making, budgeting and planning, supporting student success through retention and recruitment initiatives, and campus climate.

Written by: Laurie A. Hamer, University Relations Specialist, College of Liberal Arts and Education, 608-342-6191, hamerl@uwplatt.edu